The Red Disa takeover has given the DHL Stormers the financial stability to bring back Steven Kitshoff, but John Dobson affirmed that the Vodacom URC-winning captain’s return won’t kickoff a shopping spree. DYLAN JACK reports.
Kitshoff will re-join the DHL Stormers for the 2024-25 season after being granted an early release from his three-year contract with Irish province Ulster.
ALSO: Stormers to bloom under new investors
The experienced 32-year-old, who led the Stormers to the Vodacom URC title in 2022, will return after Dobson has endured an injury nightmare at loosehead prop this season, with all of Sti Sithole, Lizo Gqoboka, Ali Vermaak and Kwenzo Blose sitting out periods of the campaign.
Veteran Brok Harris has averaged 65 minutes in the last three games and played 69 minutes in the Champions Cup playoff against defending champions La Rochelle. The Stormers recalled Leon Lyons from a spell with Griquas to help alleviate the headache in the front row.
Kitshoff’s return also came a few weeks after the conclusion of the recent equity deal, which saw the Red Disa Consortium secure a controlling shareholding in Stormers Rugby (formerly Western Province Professional Rugby).
Briefing the media at Cape Town Stadium, Dobson said that the funds from the deal won’t be used in a squad overhaul, but rather to keep the current team together.
“I like that everybody that we’ve got in has got some sort of strong relationship with the Western Cape,” Dobson said. “Hopefully, the days of us having to go right outside for someone who has never been to Cape Town are well over. This team must represent the people of the Cape.
“I don’t think us going outside is our plan. Kitsie is just so close to us and such an important part of us. You have all seen the problems we’ve had at loosehead this year. This deal gives us the ability to do that.
“A major focus is going to be on cohesion, that we can keep this squad together. We know how young and exciting this squad is. It’s just a science in rugby, that the more they play together, the better they will get.
“There might be one or two more announcements, but nothing like us going into the market. What’s remarkable is that since this deal, there have been a few World Cup-winning Springboks who have rung up and asked to come back, which is great for us.
“Our major project is to grow the cohesion in the squad. Kitsie was a no-brainer, because he is a leader, one of us, who was gone for a very short time. I feel like we can have a mature conversation now. There are no other agendas. If it fits the budget and the best interests of the team, then we will go ahead and do it.
“I am very very happy with where we are in terms of the squad,” Dobson added.
“Kitsie was the missing piece, given the injury profile and how it worked out at loosehead. There’s not a position where we really need to go to market for.
“If we keep the squad together, then we will be able to replace the holes from within our own system. That’s the plan. The cost of acquisition is much cheaper and it’s the right thing to do. The more alignment for these guys to come through the universities, through our system and eventually our academy, it’s cheaper, but it’s also the right thing to do.”
Photo: Cole Cruickshank/Gallo Images
The post Dobson: Kitshoff won’t start Stormers spree appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.
Src: sarugbymag.co.za
